Man hit pregnant dog with stick

RSPCA inspector Nayman Dunderdale said he was pleased with the ban

A man who beat his pregnant dog with a stick has been banned from keeping any animals for 10 years.

Martin Lightfoot, 36, who gave his address as a boat on the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch, Shropshire, pleaded guilty to beating his dog.

He was reported to police after a member of the public saw him hitting Poppy, a boxer-cross, a year ago.

Magistrates in Market Drayton gave him the ban along with a conditional discharge for three years.

The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA.

The dog, along with Lightfoot's other dog, a boxer called Maisie, have been cared for by the RSPCA since the incident on 24 January last year.

Poppy later gave birth to 13 puppies, but three died. All the surviving puppies have since been re-homed.

Outside court RSPCA inspector Nayman Dunderdale said he was "very pleased" with the outcome of the case.

He said: "Ten years is a long time for a ban, and we're very happy about that.

"What happened to this animal was disgraceful. Anyone who goes around beating a dog deserves to be banned from keeping them."